Eat Like A Star: Maria Canals-Barrera

Want to look like a star? Have what they're having! Every Tuesday, we'll tell you what healthy breakfast helps our favorite stars kick off their day. This week, we talked to Wizards of Waverly Place actress Maria Canals-Barrera!

Canals-Barrera plays Theresa Russo–TV mom to Selena Gomez’s character Alex–on Disney’s Wizards of Wavely Place. You’ll see her on the big-screen this summer opposite Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne. As a hard-working actress and a real-life mother to two young daughters, Canals-Barrera knows how important it is to eat a good meal at the start of the day–no matter where you are. Luckily, she’s got plenty to choose from on set!

Canals-Barrera says, “As an actor, currently in production on Wizards of Waverly Place, we have to have our breakfast on the set. There are usually all kinds of delicious choices! I like to listen to my body. How hungry am I? What am I in the mood for?

Today I had half of a breakfast burrito with bacon. A little bacon adds so much flavor and goes a long way! I don’t believe in vilifying any foods. Everything in moderation is what I say, because if I really want a little bacon, 100 carrot sticks won’t satisfy me!

I do like to have more of the “heathy” choices, and not so much of the “empty” calories. I’ll have a little of the potatoes and a lot of the salsa. Plus, half a slice of French toast is plenty! I don’t have to deprive myself of tasty things when I can enjoy a smaller portion. I find this attitude to be a healthy one I can live with. I believe too much restriction can create anxiety, where you hear about people who eat a whole bag of cookies at one sitting. I think that happens because they don’t allow themselves those two or there Oreos when they really wanted them!

Some actors have a weird reaction when faced with all the food on a set. They resent all the choices (and often there are “not so healthy” choices), but on our set, we have EVERYTHING, and I think if one chooses wisely and equips oneself with knowledge about nutrition, then the abundance is really a blessing!

Breakfast happens to be my favorite meal of the day and I always change it up. Thank goodness there is so much to choose from on set!”